It was expected that Liu Yichen was loath to part from his newly acquired throne.
Jiang Muchen refused to give in and gave Liu Yichen an ultimatum -- vacate the throne within three days' time or have his corpse be dragged from the throne and paraded around the empire for all eyes to see.
Panicked, Liu Yichen sent countless messengers to Longjing Palace to request military support. As the supreme general, Zhang Fengxi held the power over the Golden Dragon Palace's army. With Zhang Fengxi by his side, the emperor's throne was going to be within the Wuyang Palace's grasp!
To his greatest dismay, the messengers came back one by one with the same answer -- Longjing Palace Master was currently occupied with urgent internal matters and was unable to help.
Liu Yichen was so angry that his dragon vein almost burst open. Just what was Zhang Fengxi doing? As a supreme general, it was his job to protect his emperor!
Head Eunuch Gao, one of the Wuyang Palace eunuchs that he recently promoted, told him the answer to that question.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it might be appropriate to send Longjing Palace a congratulatory gift upon the birth of its heir."
Liu Yichen widened his eyes in disbelief.
"What did you just say? Did you say that Zhang Fengxi fathered a bastard out of wedlock???"
Head Eunuch Gao responded with a slimy giggle.
"My whisperers swore with their lives that the baby exists."
Preposterous!
His son, the number one beauty Liu Wenyuan passed away barely six months ago and suddenly Zhang Fengxi became a father!
"Who is the mother?"
Head Eunuch Gao was more than prepared to answer this question.
"The mother was the former crown prince, Xie Jianyu."
"..."
Liu Yichen knew about Xie Jianyu's real gender, but Zhang Fengxi was supposed to be ignorant about it.
Not only did Zhang Fengxi know about Xie Jianyu's omega gender, he even lay with the latter and sired a child together!
Was this Zhang Fengxi's plan all along? To use the child as the means to climb the Dragon Throne?
Unforgivable, the old man thought as he shook from repressed anger.
No wonder Zhang Fengxi was not willing to help him keep the throne.
"Head Eunuch Gao," he managed through gritted teeth.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Have the Empress pick out select congratulatory gifts for Zhang Fengxi and send all of them to Longjing Palace by today."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liu Yichen took out a small brown sachet of potent poison from his sleeves and passed it to Head Eunuch Gao discreetly.
The master and the servant exchanged brief eye contact. The old eunuch took the sachet wordlessly, bowed deeply before his emperor, and left the room.
"You forced me to do this, Zhang Fengxi," Liu Yichen thought to himself as he smoothened the sleeves of his golden robe. "Don't blame me for being ruthless."
The congratulatory gifts arrived at Longjing Palace that late afternoon.
Unaware of Liu Yichen's murderous intention, Lady Song was in awe of the attention that the emperor showered her son and grandson with.
Alone the ceramic jars that held the Qi Strengthening Tonic and King's Pearl Powder hailed from the best pottery mill in the entire heaven realm!
Lady Song could not help but gasp in admiration as she rubbed her fingers against every each of the precious gifts.
"Please extend Longjing Palace's deepest gratitude for His Majesty's generous gifts, Head Eunuch Gao," Lady Song gushed full of smiles. "May his reign last for ten thousand years!"
Head Eunuch Gao bowed deeply. "His Majesty is a kind and benevolent emperor. The Longjing Palace has been His Majesty's greatest and most loyal supporter through and through. This lowly eunuch apologizes for taking too long to deliver these gifts."
"Head Eunuch Gao, don't say that!" Lady Song gasped. "While all these gifts are very thoughtful and precious, nothing can compare to the Emperor's love for Longjing Palace Master!"
"Speaking of the Longjing Palace Master..." Head Eunuch Gao lowered his voice as if he were afraid of waking the baby up, "May this lowly eunuch ask where the supreme general is? This lowly eunuch would like to greet him personally."
Lady Song sighed.
"I am so sorry to disappoint Head Eunuch Gao. The truth is that my son was out searching for a rare herb to cure my grandson's ailing illness."
Ailing illness?
A lantern literally lit up inside Head Eunuch Gao's head.
"What illness might it be? Maybe the Golden Dragon Palace's royal physicians can come up with a cure."
"Oh, it's just that the baby was born in a weak state," Lady Song quickly said. "No worries, Head Eunuch Gao. I am sure that Fengxi can handle it."
Head Eunuch Gao did not press for more answers. He had more than enough information to justify the baby's death later on.
Smiling to himself, the head eunuch excused himself.
Just as Lady Song heaved a sigh of relief and wanted to take a look at the baby, she was shocked to see Shuiran Palace Master outside the Longjing Palace gate.
"Greetings, Lady Song," Jiang Muchen cupped his hands in front of the elder as a gesture of respect. "I am here for the former crown prince Xie Jianyu's son."
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Author's note :
Fire Guardian Jiang Muchen, 24 years old, alpha.
Also known as the Shuiran Palace Master, one of the nine palace masters.